Team GATV Roundtable: Looking Back At Arrow Season 5

Are you glad the “island” flashbacks are over?

MATT: Yes, because it never fully felt like they’d nailed what the flashbacks were supposed to be. Season 2 came the closest by so directly relating and impacting the present-day storyline. There was more of that this year, but ultimately the Kovar stuff didn’t quite land. Anatoly is always a kick and I liked seeing their relationship build out further. I kind of wish the timing of the flashbacks this year made a bit more sense. When Oliver gets rescued at the end, it’s in the fall. I’m not sure that really came across in the story. I also kind of hate how deus ex machina Oliver’s final island look turned out to be. A wig and fake beard?! I almost wish Kovar had taken Oliver back to the island without any assistance from Anatoly, and in defeating him, Oliver was left stranded again for months with no sense of how he was actually going to get off the island.

CRAIG: Yes. The “island” flashbacks really only worked super well when they informed the present, and while Season 5 had some successes in that regard, I’m kind of glad they’re done. I still someday would like to see a flashback from Sara Lance’s point of view or from Slade’s, but beyond that, I’m good.

(I will laugh forever if the Season 6 premiere flashbacks are to clips from the Arrow pilot. Heck, I’d pay to see that happen!)

STEPHANIE: I am. They were such a cool idea, but they never really grew out of the growing pains and struggled to craft a narrative that gave you the same sense of dread as the present day story because you knew Oliver made it off the island alive, and chances are, no one else did.

I would give anything to see flashbacks from Sara’s point of view!

MELISSA: Yes, they’ve served their purpose and I’m excited to see how the show manages them as needed in the future. The extra time freed up in episodes when they don’t use flashbacks will make a big difference as well.